Lions to host annual Thanksgiving Dinner

By BY AMY DEMBOSKI AND LYNNE McCARTER

Published: 2011.11.17 12:00 AM

Often times some of our greatest ideas, or favorite traditions, are born out of simple observations. It was exactly that which sparked a tradition that has grown to become a staple in our community over the past ten years. Many years ago, members of the Eagle River Lion’s Club observed the stores and restaurants in Eagle River were closed on Thanksgiving. An idea was born: to have a social event to give back to the community and provide a holiday dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Not only does it give those who have no one to share the holiday with a place to go and meet new friends and visit with old ones, it also gives those who aren’t inclined (in the culinary sense) to take a load off, just sit back and enjoy.

This holiday dinner is from noon until 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at the Eagle River Lion’s Den, located at Lions Park in Eagle River. The dinner is open to the community, and thanks to contributions by the Eagle River and Chugiak Lions club, and other fine contributors, the dinner is free to everyone! This year’s menu includes all the good stuff: turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casseroles, cranberry sauce, shrimp, vegetable trays, deviled eggs, desserts galore and so much more!!

This event is possible due to the contributions of the Lions and many members of the community that assist the Lions in putting on this event. The Lions will begin setting up for the dinner on Wednesday the 23rd from 7 to 8 p.m. If you have a dish you’d like to donate, drop it by the clubhouse. Dishes that need to be cooked should be dropped off Wednesday night; otherwise all other donations can be dropped off on Thanksgiving Day by 11 a.m. If you’d like to pitch in, we would love the help! Food prep will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday the 23rd and will resume on Thanksgiving morning at 10 a.m. We can use people to help set up tables and chairs, help serve on the food line from noon to 2 p.m., clean up tables from about 2 to 3:30 p.m., and there are always lots of dishes to wash! This is a great opportunity to get the kids involved, too! Whether you show up for the food or to lend a helping hand, we sure would love to see you there. Invite your friends, your neighbors, and even your co-workers. This is a community event, and as Lions, when we think about what we are thankful for this year, as every year, we are thankful to be part of such a wonderful community.